Duo sign deals with Ulster

Ulster have announced that tighthead prop Ricky Lutton and full-back Ricky Andrew have signed new full-time contracts at Ravenhill.

Ulster have announced that tighthead prop Ricky Lutton and full-back Ricky Andrew have signed new full-time professional contracts at Ravenhill.

28-year-old front-row Lutton has signed a two-year deal while 24-year-old Andrew has put pen to paper on terms on a new twelve-month extension.

A three time Oxford Blue, he was on the winning side in the 2008 Varsity match and continued his rugby career in Australia and New Zealand.

Prop Lutton returned to Belfast to play for Belfast Harlequins in 2011. His club form saw him capped for the Ravens, before he signed a development contract at the start of 2012/13. He has played 21 games for Ulster so far and has represented the Province fourteen times this term.

"I am absolutely delighted. Being born and raised here it has always been my dream to play for Ulster and to have been able to do that over the past two seasons has been great and now to have the opportunity to do it for two more years is absolutely brilliant," he told Ulster.

Meanwhile, full-back Andrew is an Academy graduate and made his debut for Ulster against Leinster in December 2011, playing sixteen games to date for the RaboDirect PRO12 side.

"I am extremely pleased to have signed a full professional contract," revealed Andrew. "It is what I have been working for over the past six years. I've lots of good friends in the team and it's great to be playing now with the likes of Andrew Warwick and Luke Marshall who I went to school with.

"To be part of Ulster Rugby is absolutely fantastic and my aim is to keep learning and to keep contributing to the team."

Director of rugby, David Humphreys, added: "These are two talented players, from Ulster, who through hard work and dedication have become important members of our squad.

"I am delighted that they have signed full-time professional contracts and I have no doubt that they will play significant roles in Ulster's future success."